Hugh’s War on Waste – Episode One

Notes taken while watching the episode:

·      He’s presenting this programme in order to show Britain the large scale of food waste and the hidden truths on supermarkets
·      Showing what we can do at home
·      We’re spending more money than ever before to get what we want when we want it
·      We’re spending a high price for a world of infinite choice
·      Households waste £4 million of good food
·      One reason is because of multi packs and special offers
·      On average we’re binning a days work every week

·      Millions of tonnes of perfectly good food is being destroyed before it even leaves the farm
·      Interview with farmers-The Hammond’s
·      Food is graded using strict cosmetic standards
·      Most farmers are too scared to speak out and criticise supermarkets that pay them
·      They don’t expect to make a profit
·      Ricks closure for future
·      They reject so much that they don’t make enough money back
·      In the past this wasn’t an issue because cosmetic standards were different
·      1970s- never had to waste crops because of cosmetic standards
·      Rejected and returned
·      20 tonnes of parsnips
·      Putting families of generations out of business


·      Hidden food waste as a result of supermarkets policies
·      Apples- rejected if they’re too red or not red enough
·      People actually don’t notice as in 2012 30000 tonnes of ugly fruit and veg from British farms were sold due to a really bad harvest and no one noticed the difference


·      The catering industry throws the equivalent of 2 billion meals every away
·      Supermarkets are not the only corporate culprits that waste food on our high streets
·      Fast food industry
·      KFC-two dustbins full
·      One million chickens get wasted
·      If we haven’t sold a product in 90 mins it gets removed
·      Piloting a scheme to give food waste to local charities
·      By the end of 2016 KFC intend to have a distribution service and charities sin place with half their restaurants

·      Freezer and smoothies and lollies
·      Going in to homes and showing them what they can do-active initiatives work!!
·      Morrisons avoid talking about their food waste
·      Engagement is key